3d-party Candidate Aguilar Off Ballot

August 26, 1986

Jesse Aguilar, a third-party candidate for state representative who is backed by allies of Mayor Harold Washington and opponents of Ald. Juan Soliz

(25th), was knocked off the ballot Monday for failure to meet the two-year residency rule. Aguilar, a Vietnam veteran with a master`s degree in urban planning, filed petitions to be on the Nov. 4 ballot for state representative of the 20th District. The political area, which includes the Pilsen community, is headed by State Rep. Ben Martinez. Martinez, a longtime aid to former Ald. Vito Marzullo, was chosen by area Democratic committeemen to fill the vacancy of Soliz, who was elected alderman. ``It`s a real downer,`` said Ald. Jesus Garcia (22d), who had helped recruit Aguilar. Garcia and others charged that Martinez was nothing more than ``a mouthpiece for the machine.``